Sir, – Miriam Lord’s article (Home News, September 22nd) regarding the non-attendance of Senators Kelly, Heffernan and myself at the recent Labour Party think-in at Carton House needs clarification.
I explained previously that my decision (and that of Senators Kelly and Heffernan) not to attend the think-in was on the basis that I believed the location in such lavish surroundings was a wrong call for this type of event: that it would be interpreted by the public that the Labour Party was “living it up in a posh hotel” while preparing the way to implement a budget that will remove €3.5 billion from the economy by way of spending cuts and tax increases. I did not seek to make a media issue out it, but I did stand by my “principled” or “high-minded” view when sought out by the media for comment.
An attempt to compare this situation with the fact I had “no qualms about turning up a few days later to a three-day conference” of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland in Ballinasloe is an attempt to link both issues. For the purpose of clarity, I was an invited guest of the association, I am their Seanad nominee, I was a panellist at the conference for the debate on local government reform. I attended the conference for a day-and-a-half to contribute to debate and meet councillors and listen to their views on proposals for reform. I had no role in selecting the venue, nor should it be an issue for me – any more than I should seek to instruct a couple as to where to hold their wedding just because I received an invitation.
With regard to “political pragmatism” and not “ignoring councillors who vote in Seanad elections”, a little bit of research by the commentator would have revealed that the Association of Municipal Authorities represents town and city councillors who do not (except for the members in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick City councils) actually have votes in Seanad elections. The facts as outlined by me speak for themselves. – Yours, etc,